Emma Raducanu pulled out of Miami with a back injury, and Xiyu Wang will face a qualifier instead. Meanwhile, Clara Tauson will try to follow up on her insane serving performance against Oceane Dodin and beat another big-hitter, Caroline Dolehide. As always, we at LWOT have the preview and prediction for all Day 1 matches at WTA Miami. Who do you think will advance?
WTA Miami Day 1 Predictions
Laura Siegemund vs Aleksandra Krunic
Head-to-head: Krunic 1-0
Surprisingly, the two veterans have met just once on the professional circuit, with Aleksandra Krunic beating Laura Siegemund in Budapest in 2022. Now they’ve both qualified for the event, with Siegemund dropping only two games in total against Robin Montgomery and Darja Semenistaja. Krunic had it tougher but also had to face more seasoned tour-level players. It’s tough to say how their first hard-court meeting will go. The German might deserve the shout here by simply having a bigger game (while probably holding up okay against Krunic’s variety).
Prediction: Siegemund in 3
Magda Linette vs Lesia Tsurenko
Head-to-head: 1-1
Lesia Tsurenko is pretty close to being at the peak of her career at 34 years old, despite all the withdrawals and retirements in recent years. The Ukrainian breaks her opponents about 50% of the time and while her own game on serve is among the weakest at the top of the sport, she drags her opposition into the rallies and often ends up prevailing. She requires a certain standard from you and being 3-8 for the year, it’s questionable if Magda Linette can bring it right now.
Prediction: Tsurenko in 3
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova vs Xiyu Wang
Head-to-head: Schmiedlova 1-0
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova got blown out by the righty Xinyu Wang in the Indian Wells opening round, now she’ll take on lefty Xiyu Wang in Miami. The Slovak managed to qualify for the main draw with a win over her compatriot Rebecca Sramkova and leads the head-to-head 1-0 (Prague 2023). Is her beating Wang on a hard court more of an exception or a rule though? Feels like the conditions should favor the Chinese and she’s got a good shot at exacting revenge.
Prediction: Wang in 2
Caroline Dolehide vs Clara Tauson
Head-to-head: First meeting
Caroline Dolehide is starting to pick up some steam again. Maybe she hasn’t reached her Guadalajara heights, but she’s got a lot of time until then to start picking up main tour wins at least semi-regularly. Meanwhile Clara Tauson is yet again a question of health first and foremost as the quality is still there. 25 aces against Oceane Dodin in the final qualifying round is the kind of performance that makes you think she might get this done if the body holds up.
Prediction: Tauson in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea – USA TODAY Sports
